FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
World of Concrete 2026 Registration Is Open ↗

OSHA kicks off ‘Hear and Now - Noise Safety Challenge’

Words: Dave AfandadorThe Department of Labor is challenging inventors and entrepreneurs to help develop a technological solution to workplace noise exposure and related hearing loss.

The DOL's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration, in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, have launched the 'Hear and Now - Noise Safety Challenge' with the dual goals of inspiring creative ideas and raising business awareness of the market for workplace safety innovation.

Every year, 22 million workers risk losing their hearing from workplace noise hazards. Hearing loss disability costs businesses an estimated $242 million annually in workers' compensation.

Idea submissions are due by September 30. Ten finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges on October 27 in Washington D.C. The event will feature investors, representatives of the NIOSH Research to Practice Program and representatives of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The competition is open to all ideas related to occupational hearing protection. Suggested topics include:
  • Technology that will enhance employer training and improve effective use of hearing protection.
  • Technology that alerts workers when hearing protection is not blocking enough noise to prevent hearing loss.
  • Technology that allows workers to hear important alerts or human voices while remaining protected from harmful noise.
More information and a link to submit ideas can be found at www.dol.gov/featured/hearing.

The competition is open to the general public, including OSHA contractors and special government employees. However, employees of federal OSHA, "state plan" states and on-site consultation programs are not eligible.
 0
iQ Power Tools Joins as a Platinum Partner in the 2026 Masonry Alliance Program
November 2025

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is excited to announce that iQ Power Tools has joined the 2026 Masonry Alliance Program (MAP) at the Platinum Level.

Industry News
Read More
Bonding with Masonry 2025: Q4
November 2025

This issue’s questions come from an Architect and an Engineer. What questions do you have? Send them to info@masonrymagazine.com, attention Technical Talk.

David Biggs
Bonding with Masonry
Read More
Hultafors Group Continues Gold Partnership in the 2026 Masonry Alliance Program
November 2025

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is pleased to announce that Hultafors Group will continue its Gold partnership in the 2026 Masonry Alliance Program.

Industry News
Read More
Are you in the Insulated Concrete Block business? Then FTC Rule 460 applies to you…
November 2025

If you supply, sell, or use any of these… Pre-insulated concrete block... Loose-Fill Insulation... Injectable Foam-in-Place Insulation... Foam Plastic Inserts... Then you must abide by FTC Rule 460, 16 CFR 460, which governs R-value testing and claims

Bob Sullivan Richard Porter
Technical Talks
Read More